Comms
Radios, mesh networks, EMP-hardened electronics, secure phones, and how to stay reachable when the grid stalls. The category most preppers underestimate until they need it.
Showing 161 videos · runtime 5–15 min
Top picks in Comms
Curated by topic, not commissionAll curated· primary topic only
Installing the Kenwood TM-D750 in a Ford F250
Practical walkthrough of dual-band mobile radio installation, covering real-world wiring, routing, and mounting challenges for emergency communications.
9/11: He Stayed With the Transmitter. She Was 10 and Just Got Licensed.
Two ham radio operators' stories from September 11th: a broadcast engineer maintaining WTC communications and a newly-licensed ten-year-old running a Red Cross shelter's radio operations.
Off-Grid Comms: Base Camp to Field with a Manpack & Handheld
Field test of a 50-watt manpack base station communicating with a handheld radio and elevated antenna system four miles away in low terrain.
Project N.O.M.A.D.: Building an Offline Knowledge Hub for Grid-Down Scenarios
Walkthrough of a free, open-source offline computer system with Wikipedia, medical references, maps, AI, and educational content for resilient information access without internet or cloud.
What Is a PEP Station and Why Every Prepper Needs to Know Theirs
Learn how to find your nearest PEP station and choose an emergency radio to receive NOAA alerts when the grid fails.
Solar Activity and Radio Propagation: Fall 2026 HF Forecast
Fourteen minutes on how solar activity affects radio propagation, with a forecast of HF band conditions for fall 2026.
Meshtastic the Easy Way: New Pocket Pro SMA by MakerNova
Hands-on setup and review of the MakerNova Pocket Pro SMA, a turnkey Meshtastic node with GPS, Bluetooth, and multi-day battery life.
The Only M17 Production Radio Available Today
Review of the CS7000 M17 Plus, the sole production M17 radio currently on the market, with context on M17 protocol adoption in amateur radio.
Kenwood TM-D750 Triband Mobile Ham Radio: Features, Setup, and Menu Walk-Through
Thirteen-minute walkthrough of the Kenwood TM-D750 triband mobile transceiver, covering menus, external features, D-STAR, APRS, and Bluetooth TNC setup for off-grid ham radio operations.
Extend Your EMCOM Range: BTECH UV-PRO and BS50 Bluetooth Mic
Seven-minute walkthrough on using a Bluetooth microphone to remote-operate a handheld radio from elevated positions, improving emergency communications range and portability.
Portable Ham Radio Field Activation: Gear, Antenna Setup, and Location Scouting
Mike demos portable ham radio gear and a homemade antenna during a Parks on the Air activation, focusing on setup, equipment choices, and field logistics.
Stop Buying Separate Radios for Every Mode
Evaluate the Allnode Plus hotspot as a consolidated solution for AllStar, EchoLink, and digital modes in portable ham radio setups.
Icom IC-2730A Upgrade: Installing a Dual-Band Radio for the Tank Radio Satellite Kit
Fourteen-minute walkthrough of upgrading to an Icom IC-2730A dual-band radio, paired with portable power and antenna setup for reliable off-grid communications.
Core Power Bank S Review: Lightweight 5,000mAh EDC Portable Charger
Eleven-minute hands-on review of a slim, water-resistant power bank designed for EDC and outdoor use: capacity, charging speed, durability, and field performance.
User Review of the Baofeng SW9 Triband HT from Radioddity
Thirteen-minute hands-on review of the Baofeng SW9 triband handheld radio covering 2M, 220, and 70cm bands.
Which HT Actually Works For Shortwave Listening
Comparative testing of five handheld radios for shortwave reception quality to guide equipment selection.
The Art of NVIS: Local and Regional Emergency Communication
Twelve minutes on Near Vertical Incidence Skywave propagation: how NVIS antennas work, why they're valuable for local/regional communication in emergencies, and on-air demonstration with practical gear.
POTA33B Telescopic Carbon Fiber Mast Review
Thirteen-minute hands-on review of a portable telescopic carbon-fiber mast: construction, durability, deployment, and field performance for Parks on the Air operations.
Power Delivery Adapters for Ham Radio: VFLEX Review
Five-minute walkthrough of VFLEX power adapters and battery/cable pairing for portable ham radio setups in emergency scenarios.
Why Hams Are Obsessed With This
Field antenna mounting solutions for portable ham radio operations, from military mast guy rings to tripod adapters.
Getting Started with Meshtastic: Off-Grid Texting, Mesh Radios, and Emergency Preparedness
Eight-minute setup guide to Meshtastic mesh radios for off-grid communication: hardware selection, encryption, range testing, and antenna planning for household emergency resilience.
2023 RAV4 Mobile Ham Radio Antenna & Hood Lip Mount Install
Step-by-step installation of a Diamond K400 hood-lip mount and Comet CA-2X4SR antenna on a Toyota RAV4 for non-invasive mobile VHF/UHF ham radio coverage.
Inside a Real Ham Radio Trailer: Mobile Rover Setup
Tour of a fully-equipped ham radio mobile rover station used for emergency communications during special events and grid-down scenarios.
Communications Training with 2 Alpha Solutions: Ham Radio, GMRS, MURS, UV5R
Hands-on radio communications training covering ham radio, GMRS, MURS, and UV5R walkie-talkies with a veteran instructor and local radio station.
My New Favorite POTA Gear: CaHR-Tenna Hydra
Seven-minute walkthrough of the Coffee and Ham Radios Hydra portable antenna mount: how it connects to transceivers, handles multiple antenna types, and integrates into field radio deployments.
Red River Amateur Testing Team and WMZX Testing: Build Your Ham Shack on a Budget
Introduction to ham radio testing teams and practical tips for assembling a budget-conscious home radio station without overextending financially.
Mat 125S Tuner With HRD 25' Telescopic Whip: Hands-On Test
Twelve minutes testing whether an automatic tuner can match a 25-foot telescopic whip antenna across multiple ham radio bands without manual adjustment.
Ham Radio: More Than a Hobby — Communication, Technology & Public Service
Overview of amateur radio for emergency communications: licensing, affordable equipment, real-world disaster response examples, and how to establish communication when conventional networks fail.
Why Ham Radio Still Matters in the Age of 5G and AI
A seminar on amateur radio's role in emergency communication during disasters when mobile networks and infrastructure fail, featuring four decades of operational experience.
2 Meter Flower Pot Antenna by K5ACP Review
Nine-minute hands-on review of a portable 2-meter ham radio antenna, testing design and performance for field use.
Why The Director Ignored The Radio
How ham radio operators used APRS mapping and messaging to give emergency planners real-time situational awareness during a county EOC drill.
What Happened to Ham Radio? It's Not What You Think
Analysis of FCC licensing data showing ham radio's shrinking traditional base and growing outdoor-activation community, with insights on licensing barriers and community trajectory.
N9SAB 80M Linked EFHW Ham Radio Antenna | 40M NVIS Field Test
Field test of a lightweight multiband HF antenna for portable ham radio and emergency communications, with SWR measurements and one-watt Winlink performance data across 80–10 meters.
How To Do Mobile HF When You Don't Have Mobile HF
Six-minute walkthrough of an adapter-based solution for operating HF radio from a vehicle using standard components and a whip antenna.
LiNK500MP MK2 Wireless GPS for Ham Radio: When Is It Coming?
Technical breakdown of wireless GPS integration challenges in the Lab599 TX-500MP radio interface, and the proposed Bluetooth solution for off-grid field communications.
Tips for New Hams: Take Small Steps, Build Dipoles, and Learn as You Go
Beginner-friendly guidance on starting ham radio: incremental skill-building, antenna construction, and the importance of asking questions as you learn.
3-Element Beam Antenna on an Electric Tricycle
Building and field-testing a directional three-element parasitic antenna array mounted on a mobile platform to explore practical portable radio.
Solar Node Solved My RV Meshcore Problem - Elecrow M6 Solar Repeater
Field test of a compact solar-powered Meshtastic node for reliable off-grid mesh coverage in RV and remote camping conditions.
No SIM Phone Number
14-minute walkthrough on setting up a phone number using XMPP/Jabber and jmp.chat ($5/month) without relying on cellular towers or SIM cards.
Alpha Antenna Delta Loop: Fast Portable Ham Radio Antenna
Thirteen-minute walkthrough of the Alpha Antenna Delta Loop portable HF antenna for emergency ham radio communication and field deployment.
Can Software Replace a Net Control Operator?
Learn how Net Central automates amateur radio emergency net management with real-time dashboards, position tracking, and automated reporting.
I Finally Ran 12V Into My Explorer the Right(ish) Way!
Step-by-step install of a 12V DC charger and proper battery wiring in a vehicle to power portable ham radio and external battery systems.
Setting Up Your Ham Radio Estate for When You Become a Silent Key
Fourteen minutes on planning and documenting your ham radio equipment, frequencies, and contacts so family or successors can maintain your communications capability if you become unavailable.
PeakDo LinkPower 2 vs LinkPower 1: Real-World Starlink Mini Battery Test
Hands-on comparison of two portable power systems for Starlink Mini in the field, with runtime testing, build-quality breakdown, and grid-down scenario use cases (hurricanes, ice storms, wildfire).
Power Line RFI and Shack RFI Issues
Eleven minutes on identifying and solving radio frequency interference from power lines and household equipment—critical for reliable ham radio operation in emergency scenarios.
Baby Steps: My CW Copy Improvement in Six Days with Vail CW School
Seven minutes on accelerating Morse code proficiency using structured online training, with tracking metrics from 10 to 26 words per minute.
The Dark Side No One Talks About
Learn where AI-generated ham radio code succeeds and fails, and what technical knowledge you need to catch critical mistakes before deployment.
What Happens When Communication Infrastructure Fails?
How communication systems degrade in layers, why it matters, and practical steps to build redundancy into your communication plan before emergencies strike.